Trump Casts Doubt on Putin’s Willingness to End Ukraine War After Meeting with Zelenskyy

April 26, 2025 | Politics

Following a brief face-to-face conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Pope Francis’ funeral, U.S. President Donald Trump publicly expressed fresh doubts that Russian President Vladimir Putin is willing to end the war in Ukraine.

Speaking on social media Saturday as he flew back to the U.S. from Rome, Trump criticized the recent uptick in Russian missile attacks on civilian areas. “There was no reason for Putin to be shooting missiles into civilian areas, cities, and towns over the last few days,” Trump wrote. “It makes me think that maybe he doesn’t want to stop the war, he’s just tapping me along, and has to be dealt with differently — through ‘Banking’ or ‘Secondary Sanctions’? Too many people are dying!!!”

The comments marked a sharp reversal from Trump's tone just a day earlier, when he suggested Ukraine and Russia were "very close to a deal" after his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, met with Putin in Moscow.

Trump also hinted at tougher sanctions against Moscow, a move that some within his own party have been encouraging for weeks. Republican Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa urged Trump on Friday to “put the toughest of sanctions on Putin,” warning that “there is clear evidence he is playing America as a patsy.”

This is the second time in just days that Trump has rebuked Putin, a leader he rarely criticizes publicly. Earlier in the week, Trump issued a blunt message to Putin on social media, telling him to “STOP!” after a deadly missile barrage struck Kyiv.

A Symbolic Meeting at the Vatican

Trump’s brief meeting with Zelenskyy, which took place on the sidelines of Pope Francis' funeral at St. Peter’s Basilica, was the first time the two leaders had met in person since their heated confrontation at the White House in February. That meeting had temporarily strained U.S.-Ukrainian relations, leading Trump to briefly pause military aid and intelligence sharing with Kyiv.

Following their latest encounter, Zelenskyy described the meeting as "good" in a post on X, formerly Twitter. "We discussed a lot one on one. Hoping for results on everything we covered — protecting lives of our people, full and unconditional ceasefire, reliable and lasting peace," Zelenskyy wrote. “A very symbolic meeting that has the potential to become historic, if we achieve joint results.”

The White House characterized the discussion as "very productive" and said it would provide more details soon. According to officials, the meeting lasted about 15 minutes and took place inside the basilica before the leaders joined other mourners at the outdoor service.

Pope Francis had long championed peace efforts in Ukraine, and the timing and setting of the Trump-Zelenskyy meeting carried significant symbolic weight.

The Struggle for a Ceasefire

Despite the hopeful tone from both sides, Trump’s remarks underscore the ongoing difficulty in brokering a ceasefire. While Zelenskyy has agreed to an American proposal for an initial 30-day halt to hostilities, Russia has not accepted the plan and continues to attack Ukrainian targets.

Trump has repeatedly urged Ukraine and Russia to pursue “very high-level talks” to end the war. However, neither Zelenskyy nor Putin has publicly responded to Trump’s call for direct negotiations.

Adding to the complexity is Trump’s evolving position on Crimea. In a Time magazine interview published Friday, Trump signaled that he views Crimea — annexed by Russia in 2014 — as likely remaining under Russian control. “Crimea will stay with Russia,” he said, calling Ukraine’s goal of reclaiming the peninsula unrealistic. “Everybody understands that it’s been with them for a long time.”

This stance complicates any potential settlement, as Zelenskyy continues to insist on the return of all Ukrainian territory seized by Russia.

Meanwhile, Zelenskyy hinted that more critical talks could take place soon. In a Friday night statement, he emphasized the need for strong international pressure on Russia. “Real pressure is needed so that they accept either the American proposal to cease fire or our proposal — whichever can ensure a reliable, immediate, and unconditional ceasefire, followed by a dignified peace and security guarantees,” he said.

“Diplomacy must succeed,” Zelenskyy added. “And we are doing everything to make diplomacy truly meaningful and effective.”

What’s Next

As Trump returns to Washington, pressure is mounting on his administration to back up his rhetoric with tougher action. Whether through additional sanctions, diplomatic efforts, or renewed military support for Ukraine, the path forward remains uncertain.

With battlefield conditions still volatile and Putin showing little sign of serious negotiation, the road to peace may be longer and harder than Trump had previously suggested — even as both Washington and Kyiv push to turn a symbolic meeting into real diplomatic progress.